A few weeks ago, I attended the Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada.  The next five days were a blur of activity, from screenings of shorts and features, to seminars, lectures, and workshops.  It is a wonderful festival that allows one to meet many talented artists and animation professionals, and will certainly provide you with tons of inspiration. During the festival, I was able to view a few features that haven’t received much play here in the US.  Here are my thoughts on those.

Mary and Max by Adam Elliot

Mary and Max is described as a clayography, which seems to be a new term for claymation.  It is a wonderful feature film, brought to you by Academy Award-winning writer/director Adam Elliot and producer Melanie Coombs.  Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette do a really great job with the voices of Max and Mary.  The story is about two very unlikely pen-pals, whose friendship survives a vast age difference, two continents, and many life surprises.  It is a very touching film and often very comedic.  I loved the black and white look of the film, with the bits of color thrown in for effect throughout.  There are times when this film gets overly dark, but thankfully, it never stays there for too long.  It is an amazing story of friendship and what it is to be human.  Mary and Max won Best Animated Feature at the festival.

My Dog Tulip by Paul and Sandra Fierlinger

My Dog Tulip is a true story about a middle-aged man’s adoption of a dog he names Tulip, and the touching love story that follows.  It was directed by Paul and Sandra Fierlinger and narrated by Christopher Plummer.  It is hand-drawn film with beautifully painted watercolor backgrounds.  Tulip is a dog that often seems unpredictable and frustrating, but at the same time profoundly endearing and sweet.  I have to admit I was a little grossed out by his owner’s preoccupation with her poo and menstrual cycles, but I was able to overcome my delicate sensibilities and see this for the great film it is.  Dog lovers are in for a real treat!

Edison and Leo by Neil Burns

Edison and Leo had to be the most disappointing of the bunch.  Its description seemed so interesting but that might have been its downfall.  Its plot was all over the place, and unfortunately, didn’t hold up.  Every time something implausible needed explanation, an excuse was immediately invented.  Some parts of the film were really funny, but didn’t make up for its incoherence.

Mai Mai Miracle by Sunao Katabuchi

Mai Mai Miracle is an adorable feature about friendship, between a small-town girl named Shinko and Kiiko, a girl who moves from the big city of Tokyo and is in Shinko’s class at school.  Kiiko is at first a fish out of water, but she comes out of her shell as her friendship with Shinko blossoms.  The animation in this film has a wonderful way of capturing childhood joy, and I love it for that.  There are lots of cute moments in this film that make you smile.  I don’t quite get what the miracle is at the end, but for me, it was the miracle of friendship and how it can make one feel. 

Did you attend the festival?  Did you have any particular films that stood out for you?  I would love to hear what you thought!  ‘Til next time!